Jonathan Castroviejo of Movistar Team finished his 2013 season after World Championships in Florence held two months ago and enjoyed his holidays. 26-year old Spaniard, recognized so far as an excellent time-trialist, has already begun his preparations for the upcoming season and revealed main objectives connected with nearest future in professional cycling.
Spanish Time Trial Champion aims to make the final Movistar’s roster for Giro d'Italia and hopes to take a step further in developing his climbing skills, to play more prominent role in major one- week races like Tirreno -Adriatico , Tour de Romandie , Eneco Tour and Tour de Pologne.
The Basque rider from Movistar Team has begun training after competing his last race in Florence in September.
"It was a month of complete rest , without touching the bike, before the Criterium in Japan organized by ASO and followed by the team's first training camp . From there I started training slowly , first with other activities such as the gym and Mt. I have my routine and I know it by heart . And this week I started riding a little bit , about two hours , because the weather has not been the most suitable ," Castroviejo told Spanish media.
During the mentioned first Movistar training camp in November, Castroviejo had the opportunity to meet the team in their renewed form and work on the final schedule for upcoming season, which still is yet to be finalized in its decisive shape.
"There are many changes , concerning not only team’s composition but the equipment. Again I think we have an interesting and powerful team . We will start in Dubai and I want to perform well from the beginning. Then it remains uncertain whether I should race Qatar and Oman or participate in Vuelta o Algarve in order to prepare to Tirreno-Adriatico, which is among my main personal objectives. Then perhaps Tour de Romandie, which I’d also like to ride, before tackling the Giro , the greatest goal of the first part of the season "
26-year old Castroviejo aims to prepare well to his possible participation in Giro d’Italia, his only third Grand Tour after the debut in 2012 Vuelta a Espana and tour de France in 2013.
" At the age of 26 I have participated in only two Grand Tours. It’s not an easy task to finish three-week race, but I’ll give it a shot at the Giro. I have to learn and face new challenges.”
Although during the 2013 season Castroviejo managed to take his only victory during the Spanish National ITT Championships where he met rather poor competition, Movistar rider positively evaluates his progress over past twelve months.
"My goal every year is to slowly develop my climbing skills and I think I succeeded. In the Tour, I was climbing with main GC contenders what two or three years ago was unthinkable. And above all I was able to maintain great regularity during all decisive moments in the race. Maybe I have missed a point in the time trials, but it is becoming a complicated discipline, with many specialists. The final classification and the gaps between main contenders during ITT Championships say it all. So I cannot base my all preparations on improving time trialing skills, but my goal is to develop as a complete, versatile cyclist," he explained .
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